What ever that could have been wrung out is not so difficult to guess. PML-N would be well-advised to focus solely on efficiency of internal economy & governance, and leave aside trade with India for couple of years. This is not just something that interests Army. I can guess by myself that it is indeed an over-driving need of the hour because Indians have opted for a course of action that would have brushed aside 'confidence-building' measures anyway. Do not ask me for analysis though.
Gen Raheel Sharif and NS met for a couple of hours. Had the meeting been short, there would be very little to think of it. But in the back-drop of pending visit of Chinese delegation, the meeting assumes significance beyond the usual. Our army gives a lot of weight to China and it must not have been difficult to convince Gen. Raheel to come around. I am upset with myself for not thinking about this earlier.
I think all that was required was for NS to do nothing for a few days and then point out the obvious to Gen. Raheel.
If I were to extend my speculation, some things must have been agreed to. These could include resignation of SS on top of things already negotiated.
SMQ emerges as the winner in all this if you see things as I see them. I had been suspecting his role for the past one week. I knew about tension between SMQ and Javed Hashmi, my suspicions were confirmed by Hamid Mir column - enough that I could confidently write about it.
